Young Women + Education = Power

With more than 250 million Latinas in the United States and projections putting them at 15 percent of the population by 2050, the education of Latinas has never been more important than it is today. At Prepárate, attendees heard first-hand from six inspiring Latina students.

The young women drew plenty of well-earned praise for their stories and successes. Several audience members were so moved that they were brought to tears, and many took to social media to share their thoughts. Here are some highlights from this powerful panel:

"I didn't have a Latina coder to look up to, so I want to be that for younger girls" - incredible HS student. #Preparate16

— Jennifer Rosenthal (@jenn_rosenthal)

"Adults told me to do what they hadn't done... Focus on education." - Student from Spanish Harlem, found passion via teachers. #Preparate16

— Jennifer Rosenthal (@jenn_rosenthal)

"As young Latinas, we need to take this step to show those coming behind us that they can achieve higher education." #Preparate16